Shotgun shell loading device



Nov. 21; 1961 Filed July 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 Fig. 6

2 /25 I /X a J P m 60) 8 U /0 //27 I20 g INVENTOR.

All

J. PUTH SHOTGUN SHELL LOADING DEVICE Filed July 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 8 W

i l I I 6 64 /70 1 [B3 4 t/0a 70 '76 72 7a //0 90 92 a [/2 94 /7l 0 I06 George J. Pull;

INVENTOR.

3;,dh9387 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,387 SHOTGUN SHELL LGADING DEVICE George J. Puth, 625 W. Lawerence St., Appleton, Wis. Filed July 29, 195% Ser. No. 830,332 13 Claims. (Cl. 86-29) This invention relates to shotgun shell loading device adapted for use inthe reloading of used shotgun shells and constitutes a oontinuation-in-part of my prior copending application of the same title, Serial No. 542,606, filed October 25, 1955 now abandoned.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device adapted to be used by sharpshooters and other sportsmen for reloading used shotgun shells in a manner which will also restore to proper shape the casings of the used shells.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of means for automatically delivering a predetermined quantity of powder and of shot to the primed shell casing which is being filled with powder and shot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for reloading used shotgun shells which in accordance with the preceding object will automatically deliver a predetermined quantity of powder and shot to the primed shell casing, and which will insure the successive deliveries of a charge of powder and a charge of shot and will positively prevent two successive deliveries of either powder or of shot.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which shall include a convenient means to facilitate the positioning of the wads in the shell which separate the powder and shot therein.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a shotgun shell reloading apparatus which will insure the compressing of the charges of powder and shot and f the wad in the shell at a constant predetermined pressure to thereby obtain uniform sizes and shapes of the reloaded shells and uniform performance of the same in the barrel of a gun.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a shotgun shell loading device which will facilitate the reloading of a used shotgun shell by the insertion of the charges of powder and shot in the shell while the latter is in expanded condition as a result of being fired, and thereafter will compress the charges to the desired degree of pressure while reducing the size of the shell to its desired original dimensions.

Yet another important specific object of the invention is to provide a shotgun shell reloading apparatus wherein a single member is employed for the joint purposes of introducing the measured charges of powder and shot into the shell to be loaded; subsequently compressing the powder wads in the shell; and thereafter compressing the loaded shells to a desired uniform degree of compression.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a shotgun shell loading device which is simple in construction, highly efiicient in operation, strong and durable; capable of being utilized so as to provide a shell with a load having a predetermined ballistic performance, yet which is inexpensive to produce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l'is aside elevational view, parts being shown in vertical section, of the shotgun shell loading device according to the present invention, alternative positions of parts being shown in dotted lines therein and the apparatus being illustrated duringthe operation of compressing the powder wad and charge of powder in the shell;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional detail of the shotgun shell loading device but without the powder and shot measurer attached to the stand thereof and showing the wad guide and holder positioned in operative condition beneath the loading tube, the shell being omitted;

FIGURE 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view of the invention taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view illustrating the construction of one form of a crimping die which may be utilized in an initial step of crimping and closing the loaded shell, the latter being positioned in a. sizing die;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional detail view of another crimping die which may sometimes be utilized in the final step of crimping and closing the shell after loading with the shell shown positioned in a sizing die;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of the crimping die shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the crimping die shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional detail View through one form of the powder and shot measurer;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the powder and shot measurer of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 19-16 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 11-1ll of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a shell crimping and closing die attachement for a drill press or like machine and which may be used in accordance with the principles of this invention;

FIGURE 13 is a partial elevational view of the wad holder provided with depending fingers and which is employed for inserting a wad in a shell upon the powder charge placed therein; and

FIGURE 14 is an elevational view of a primer removing and inserting tool which is used in the apparatus of this invention and with parts being shown in section.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 designates generally the shotgun shell loading device com prising the present invention. This device includes a base 12 having a stand 14- rising therefrom. The stand may be in the form of a cylindrical column upon which a carriage :16 is mounted for guided vertical sliding movement by means of rings 18 and 20 which are integral with the carriage l6 and slidably encircle the stand. A coil spring 22 surrounds the lower portion of the stand and engages the ring 20 and the base 12 to resiliently urge the carriage to its normally raised portion above the base as shown in FIGURE 2 and in dotted lines in FIGURE 1.

The carriage 16 has a downwardly projecting rod or rammer 24 mounted thereon and depending therefrom and which as shown is integral but which may be mechanically connected thereto if desired, and which is of a solid cylindrical character having thereon a pair of crimping dies carried by means of a transversely extending plate 2.6, the dies being indicated at 28 and 30, see FIGURES 3-5. Reference will be made more specifically hereinafter to the crimping die construction.

The carriage 16 also carries a pair of vertically spaced laterally extending and vertically aligned mounting rings 32 and 34 which slidably receive therein and support for guided vertical sliding movement a combined loading tube and rammer 36. The loading tube 36 has a collar 38 fixedly mounted thereon at about its mid-portion, see FIG- URE 2, and a spring 40 encircles the loading tube 36 and terminally engages the ring 32 and the collar 38 to thereby yield-ingly urge the loading tube to its lowermost position on the carriage 16, with the collar 38 resting upon the ring 34 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Removably secured upon the stand 14 as by a pin 48 is a bracket 50 to which there is pivotally attached at 52 one end of an operating lever 54. By means of a link 56 pivotally connected to a mid-portion of the operating lever 54 at 58, the lever 54 is pivotally attached to the carriage at 60 whereby the carriage 16 and its associated components may be raised and lowered with respect to the stand 14 upon actuation of the lever 54.

Removably secured in vertically adjusted position upon the upper end of the stand 14- by a set screw 62, see FIG- URE 1, is a powder and shot measurer 64 having a laterally projecting plate or bracket 66 which is apertured for sliding reception upon the stand 14. The function of the measurer is to dispense accurately measured charges of powder and shot, in succession and upon manual operation of the measurer for loading the shotgun shell. The specific construction of the measuring device is immaterial to the invention claimed herein, and any of the various constructions thereof disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 810,002, filed April 30, 1959, may be employed.

This measurer 64 illustrated herein is one suitable form of measurer and its construction and operation will be best understood with reference to FIGURES 8-11. The measurer 64 includes a sleeve 67 extending horizontally and comprising an outer cylinder which is received within a horizontal bore through a housing 68. The housing is provided above the cylinder 67 with upwardly opening apertures 70 and 72 therethrough, which as shown in FIGURE 9 may be rectangular, and at. a central portion with a downwardly extending depending downwardly convergent delivery funnel 74, whose lower end terminates in a tubular discharge means 75 by which charges of powder and shot as set forth hereinafter are delivered into the open upper end of the loading tube 36 previously mentioned.

A pair of cylindrical containers 80 and 82 have their lower end received in seats in the recesses 81 and 83 respectively which are formed in the upper portion of the housing 64 and from which the apertures 70 and 72 open axially and centrally therethrough and downwardly therefrom. The containers are detachably secured in place upon the housing as by means of a bolt 84 disposed between the containers and whose lower end is threadedly engaged as at 8 6 in the housing 68 between the two recesses 81 and83.

Disposed within the outer cylinder 67 is a transverse, movable, relatively longer sleeve or cylinder 88 whose opposite ends project beyond those of the outer cylinder 67 and which is also provided upon its upper side with a pair of apertures 90 and 92 therethrough which are respectively registerable with the openings or apertures 76 and 78 of the outer cylinder upon transverse shifting of the movable cylinder 88, the openings 76 and 78 being of course in fixed registration with the openings 70 and 72 of the housing 68. A fixed block 94 is secured in any suitable manner in the movable cylinder 88, forming a partition between the openings 90 and 92 thereof.

Cooperating with the opposite sides of the block 94 are a pair of movable blocks 96 and 98 slidably received within the cylinder 88 and each having attached thereto a threaded shank or stem 100 and 102. These threaded shanks are engaged with threaded end pieces 104 and 106 which are secured by set screws 108 and 110 to the ends of the movable cylinder 88. Lock nuts 1 12 and 114 are threaded upon the ends of the shank and are employed to hold the adjustable blocks 96 and '98 in adjusted position with respect to the end pieces 104 and 106 and hence with respect to the fixed partition 94 and the movable cylinder 88. It will be observed that the fixed block 94 and the adjustable blocks 96 and 98 serve to adjustably'oontrol and define the effective size of the ports 76, 90 of the opening 70 and 78, 92 of the opening 72 and constitute measuring chambers for receiving adjustably measured charges of powder and shot. It will be understood there are thus provided adjustable vertical discharge passages extending entirely through the movable cylinder and which upon reciprocation of the latter in the housing 68 are caused to successively and sequentially register respectively with the discharge opening 70 and 72 of the receptacles and 82.

The arrangement of the ports and the spacing of the same is such that movement of the cylinder 88 towards the left and to the position shownin FIGURE 8 will cause the port of the movablecylinder to register with the port 76 of the outer cylinder 67 and thus with the opening 70 whereby a charge will descend by gravity from the container 80 into the measuring chamber constituted by the port 90 between the members 94 and, 96 in the outer cylinder 67, while the other port 92 will be out of registration with the port 72 and 78.

'At its mid-portion, the stationary outer cylinder 67 has upon its lower surface a discharge port 95. above the outlet 75 of the funnel 74. When the movable cylinder is moved toward the left as in FIGURE 8, the measuring chamber disposed between the members 94 and 98 0f the movable cylinder and which is defined by the port 92 will be in registration with this discharge port whereby the contents therein will be dropped into the funnel 74. Subsequently, when the movable cylinder 88 is moved toward the right, the measuring chamber in the movable cylinder defined by the port 90 will be placed in registration with the discharge port 95 and its contents ,discharged in the funnel 74, while the port 92 will now register with the ports 78 and 72 to thereby receive a measured charge from the container 82.

Thus, it will be evident that movement in one direction will deliver a measured charge from one container, while movement in the opposite direction will deliver a measured charge trorn the other container. Further, the charge is not delivered from one measuring chamber of the movable cylinder into the discharge funnel 74 until the other measuring chamber is brought into position to receive a charge from the other container. Thus, it is impossible to inadvertently operate the device to effeet the delivery and discharge of two measured charges from one container onto the funnel 74.

It will be noted that a guide rod 170 is secured to and projects laterally from one side of the housing 68 in parallel relation to the movable cylinder 88, and constitutes a stationary guide which is slidably received in a slot 172, see FIGURE 11, which is provided in the periphery of the end piece 104. Thus, any rotation of the movable cylinder during its transverse sliding movement in the outer cylinder 67 is prevented.

Referring again to FIGURE 2 it will be observed that the uppermost end of the loading tube 36 has a diametrically enlarged cup-shaped head portion 118. This enlarged head portion 118 is of such size that in the uppermost position of the loading tube 36, it will register with or receive, therein the discharge spout 75 of the funnel 74, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, whereby the measured charges from the measuring device be delivered into the loading tube and will then be discharged by gravity from the open lower end thereof into a shotgun shell into which the lower end has been inserted.

It is to be clearly understood that the other forms of measuring devices disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 810,002 may be used as replacements for the form just described.

The base 12 is provided below the rammer 24, as will be apparent from FIGURES 1 and 2, with an aperture 120 of a particular size and for a particular purpose set forth hereinafter.

Referring now especially to FIGURES Z, 3 and 13 it will be seen that rising from the base 12 are a pair of apertured ears 138 and 140 between which is pivotally mounted by a pin or rivet or the like 142 an upstanding plate 144 carrying a vertically disposed sleeve or bushing 146 by means of a laterally extending arm or plate 148. The member 146 constitutes a wad holder or guide and is disposed above its support plate 148, while suitable thin resilient fingers 150 are disposed in vertical alignment with the member 146 but extend below the support plate 148 and comprise a resilient guide member adapted to be inserted into the open upper end of the shotgun shell. There is thus a continuous bore extending vertically through the member 146, the support plate 148 and the resilient guide fingers 150 through which may pass the powder wad 125 and the loading tube 36.

When a shell having a charge of powder 127 therein is positioned in alignment with the loading tube 36, and the wad loading attachment is moved in the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, with the thin fingers 150 disposed in the upper end of the shell, a wad 125 may be placed in the holder 146, and will be frictionally retained therein by the resilient fingers 150. Upon downward movement of the loading tube 36 under the operation of the handle 54, the loading tube will pass through the wad holder 146 and the fingers 150, forcing the wad downwardly into the shell upon the charge of powder previously placed therein and packing the wad in place. It will be observed that the fingers 150 are of a thin flexible material so that they will offer but slight restriction to the open, frequently deformed upper end of the shell which of course has been enlarged during the firing of the same, thus enabling the wad to be positioned in the shell without damage to the wad and shell as would probably re- Sult, owing to the necessary tight fit of a wad in a shell, if attempts were made to introduce the wad into the deformed shell. It will be noted that during the operation of positioning the wad in the shell, that the spring 40 about the loading tube 36 will control precisely the force exertable on the wads by manipulation of the handle 54 so that the wads will be seated upon the powder charge 127 with a constant uniform pressure during this operation.

It is important that the insertion of the wad 125 and the compression of the powder charge 127 therebeneath by the loading tube 36 as in FIGURE 1 is rendered possible and is advantageously efiected by effecting this while the fired shell is still in an expanded condition at its open, deformed upper end thus providing the necessary clearance between the interior of the shell wall for the fingers 150 and the wad 125 and before the loaded shell has been restored and compressed to its original size by the sizing die 126.

The operating of reforming and loading used shotgun shells as performed by this apparatus also includes the use of a sizing die 126, see FIGURES 4 and 5, for truing the reloaded shell and restoring it from its expanded and deformed condition resulting from its previous firing, to its originial dimensions and shape. The structure of the die 126 and its dimensions are quite critical and must be within extremely narrow tolerances. However, since the specific structure of the die itself forms no part of the invention claimed herein, being fully disclosed in my co-pending applications, Serial Numbers 719,814 filed March 7, 1958 and 795,720 filed February 26, 1959 and is claimed in the former, a detailed description thereof is omitted from this application as being superfluous.

Briefly, however, it is to be noted that the die 126, FIGURES 4 and 5, is a tubular member open at top and bottom and having a side wall 130 with an exterior cylindrical surface provided with a diametrically enlarged annular collar 132 in adjacent, closely spaced relation to the lower end thereof. The internal surface of the type has differently tapered portions, as set forth in my prior application above mentioned, which are approximately shaped to cause a used and loaded shotgun shell when forced therein to be reshaped and restored to its original dimensions.

After the used shell has been re-primed, loaded with a charge of powder 127, the powder wad and a charge of shot 131 all while in its deformed and expanded condition, it is inserted and forced upwardly into the sizing die 126 through the open bottom end of the latter. Crimping dies 28 and 30, or others to be hereinafter more specifically referred to are then'applied to the open top end of the shell and the crimping and closing of the shell is then eifected while simultaneously with the crimp ing operation the sizing die operates to complete the reforming and truing of the shell therein. After the completion of the crimping and closing of the upper end of the loaded shell and the reforming of the latter, the loaded shell, now completed, is ejected from the sizing die and is ready for use.

For ejecting the shell, the die 126 is placed over the ejection opening 120 of the base 12, the lower end of the die extending into the opening and with the collar or rib 132 of the die resting upon the base at the rim of the opening. When the carriage 16 is now lowered, the ram 24 will engage the cririrped top of the shell and drive the latter downwardly from the die 126 and through the ejection opening 120.

In my prior application, Serial No. 542,606, the crimping and closing dies 28 and 30 of FIGURES 4 and 5 were disclosed as a means to effect the crimping of the open top of the loaded shell and its subsequent closing. It is now preferred to employ the crimping and closing dies and the operation shown in FIGURES 17-23 in my prior application Serial No. 795,720, and claimed therein, to effect this part of the operation of reloading a shell. Since the invention claimed herein is not limited to any particular means or method for crimping and closing a reloaded shell, a detailed disclosure of the preferred arrangement of my copending application Serial No. 795,720 has been omitted as superfluous in the instant application.

It is possible however, in some instances, to use the die 28 to efieot the initial step of the crimping operation and to employ the die 30 to effect the last portion of the crimping and closing operation just before the rammer 24 is employed as set forth hereinbefore to eject the completed and loaded shell from the sizing die. Accordingly, a brief description of the particular construction of the dies 28 and 30 is deemed to be advisable.

It will be observed that alternatively after the initial crimping operation performed by the die 28 as shown in FIGURE 4, or by the crimping die of my copending application Serial No. 792,720, the shell may be placed upon the base 12 below the loading tube 36 and upon downward movement of the carriage 14 by the handle 54, the crimping operation may be completed, with the pressure applied or the compression effected upon the charges in the shell being thus held to the desired constant pressure.

Shown in FIGURE 14 is a primer tool consisting of a cylindrical body portion having a diametrically reduced pin-like end portion 182 at one extremity and which is connected to the body portion as by a conical flaring portion 183, while the other end of the tool has a recess or hollow 184 therein having a cylindrical wall thereabout whose lower edge is beveled or conical as at 185. The pin-like end portion 182 is utilized by inserting the tool into a shotgun shell with the pin 18-2 engaging and forcing the spent primer out below the bottom end of the shell, while the hollow end portion 184 is inserted into the shell about the primer seat therein for forcing the shell around the new primer to thus seat the new primer in the shell while preventing the wad of the shell from being dished inwardly.

The operation of reconditioning and reloading a fired shotgun shell in accordance with this apparatus and invention is as follows:

Utilizing the loading tube 36 as a rammer, or by other suitable means, the fired primer of the discharged shell is unseated and forced out of position in the base of the shell. This may be effected by .using the primer tool 189 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 14 and seating it on the base 12 in vertical alignment beneath the loading tube 36 with the inverted shell enclosing the upper portion of the tool 180 and the upper end of the primer removing pin 182 abutting the primer within the shell. As the loading tube is forced downwardly, the spent primer will be forced from the base of the shell into the hollow end of the loading tube.

Next, the primer tool 180 is turned upside-down from the position shown in FIGURE 14- and the loading tube 36 is again depressed so as to force the seating tool 184) into the fired shell with a new primer being positioned on the base 12 and being forced into theaperture in the primer ring of the shell with the hollow end 184 of the tool providing space into which the primer can extend. The use of the, primer tool 180 in this position forces the shell around the new primer and rivets the paper around the new primer while also preventing the primer ring or head of the shell from being dished inwardly. The shell is then held, with the hand, under the loading tube and surrounding the lower end thereof.

Next the measuring device 64 is moved to its left po-.

sition, thereby receiving a charge of powder in the measuring chamber of the movable cylinder 88. The measuring device is then moved to the right, dumping the measured charge of powder into the loading tube and into the shell. While the movable cylinder is in the right position, the other measuring chamber therein receives a charge of shot in readiness to be discharged into the shell during subsequent movement of the movable cylinder toward the left. 7

Next, the shell with the powder charge therein is placed upon the base 12 and the wad holder 146 is positioned thereabove with the fingers 150 being inserted into the upper end of the shell. A .wad is then inserted into the holder 146 and upon downward travel of the loading tube 36, this wad is forced past the guide fingers 150 into the shell and packed upon the powder charge with the desired constant pressure permitted by the spring 40.

Next, while the shell with the powder and wad therein are positioned beneath the loading tube, the wad holder 146 either remains in the previous condition or if desired being removed, the measuring device is pushed to the left in the subsequent operation just mentioned, dumping the charge of shot into the shell. At this time, the other measuring chamber of the movable cylinder receives a measured charge of powder therein in readiness for the next operation of the measuring device.

The top of the shell is then inserted into the bottom of the sizing die 126 so that the top of the sizing die may now be placed under the initial crimping die 28, FIGURE 4 or the crimping die assembly of application Serial No. 795,720 and upon lowering the carriage -16 by the handle 54, the sizing d-ie will be forced fully onto the shell. As shown in FIGURE 4 this operation reshapes the shell down to the rim, restoring the flat su-rface of the base of the shell, and now compressing and restoring the shell to its original shape and dimensions from which it was distorted and damaged in the firing of the shell. This operation also shapes the top of the shell into a conical configuration which is the initial stage of the crimping operation.

Next, the sizing die with the shell inside is placed beneath the final crimping die of my last mentioned application and the next downward movement of the carriage 16, completes the crimping operation upon the top of the shell. By the unique shape of the insideof the sizing die, the charge is locked firmly in position and allows a more positive crimp. The crimping die allows a full 180 bend of the material of the shell to be made in the end of the shell, which strengthens the crimp as well as folding the end of the shell over so as to not require a wad therebeneath to retain the shock. This permits getting the required pressure with less powder or greater pressure for the same amount of powder as desired.

As a substitute for this last mentioned step, the shell after being partiallycrirnped as shown in FIGURE 4 may be placed beneath the loading tube, and upon operation of the handle 54, the loading tube will enter the shell and complete the crimping operation in the same manner as effected by the final crimping die 30 of FIGURE 5, but with the advantage that the charges of powder and shotgun shell are compressed under the exact desired pressure afforded by the spring 40.

, Upon, the completion of the final crimping operation, whether performed by the die 30 or by the loading tube, the die 30 may be employed to force the crimped top into the fiat condition of FIGURE 5, completing the closing of the shell. Thereafter, or alternative thereto, the shell with the sizing die still mounted thereon is placed over the aperture in the base 12. The open lower end of the sizing die will be received in the opening 120, while the enlarged portion 132 will rest upon the plate 12 surrounding this opening. Thereupon the carriage will be again lowered and the rammer 24 will now engage the crimped top of the shell and force it out of the sizing die and through the aperture 120 of the base.

It will be observed that by this operation the shell has been effectively reconditioned for further use. Thus, the spent primer has been replaced; the paper wad at the bottom of the shell which receives the primer has been pressed back into place by the operation of the tool the shell has been loaded at the desired. exact pressure and with an exactly measured charge; the upper end of the shell has been thoroughly and completely crimpedwith a very eifective and. strong crimp formed thereomand the shell has been reduced from its expanded size as a result of the firing operation to the original or a slightly smaller diameter and with the front end of the shell slightly tapered by the operation of the tapered portion of the upper end of the bore in the sizing die 126, so that the shell maybe readily introduced into the firing chamber of the gun. V

It is to be noted that the pressure applied upon the powder through the wad by the loading tube; and upon the charges inthe shell during the crimping operation by the loading tube cannot exceed that of the tension of the spring 40, so that a uniform exact loading pressure is obtained resulting in extreme uniformity in the performance of thereloaded shells. Further, the operation of loading is facilitated and rendered more accurate through the action of the powder and shot measurer.

The sizing die allows crimping without transmitting pressure to the shot, wads or powder.

. The attachment shown in FIGURE 12 represents a modified construction. It includes a pair of dies 228 and 230, similar in shape and purpose to the dies 28 and 30 previously described and which are secured to a transversely extending plate 232. The latter in turn is secured or mounted-upon a suitable cylindrical rod 234 having a reduced upper end 238 for attachment in a drill press or other suitable machine whereby this device may be utilized with the other elements of a drill press to function as a shotgun shapingdevice.

It is to be noted that the tube 36 functions as a combined loading tube for the shot and powder charges and pressure member for applying a constant predetermined pressure to the wad and charges of ashell and to the shell during the crimping operation. However, it is also within the purview of this invention to provide a separate loading tuhe 36 and aseparate resilient plunger or ramrner for independently performing these functions if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shotgun shell loading device comprising a base, a standard upon said base, a carrier, means mounting said carrier upon said standard for guided vertical movement,

actuating means connected to said carrier for causing vertical travel of the latter, a combined hollow loading tube and rammer supported upon said carrier for movement therewith, said loading tube having an open upper end for receiving charges of powder and shot and an open lower end projecting downwardly from said carrier and slidable within a shotgun shell placed therebeneath for delivering charges of powder and shot thereto and for applying pressure to loads therein, means on said carrier mounting said loading tube for relative vertical movement, resilient means interposed between and connected to said carrier and loading tube yieldingly urging the latter downwardly relative to the former whereby to transmit a uniform maximum downward force from the carrier to said loading tube when the carrier is depressed by said actuating means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient means consists of a coil compression spring disposed about said loading tube with its upper end engaging said mounting means on said carrier and with its lower end engaged with said loading tube.

3. A shotgun shell loading device comprising a base, a stand mounted upon and rising from said base, a carrier slidably mounted upon said stand for vertical movement, actuating means connected to said carrier for raising and lowering the latter upon said stand, a vertically elongated tubular member supported upon said carrier and having a lower portion extending therebeneath and of such size as to be slidable within a shotgun shell, means for supporting on said base below said member and in stationary position a shotgun shell to be loaded, means on said carrier and projecting laterally therefrom in vertically spaced relation for mounting and guiding said member for vertical movement relative thereto, resilient means connected to said carrier and member and yieldingly urging the latter downwardly from the former whereby to apply by said resilient means a uniform downward force when the carrier is lowered by said actuating means to thereby uniformly compress charges in shotgun shells, said mounting and guide means on said carrier comprising a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rings projecting lateral-1y from said carrier, said member being slidably and guidably disposed in said rings, said resilient means being disposed entirely between said rings with its ends respectively engaging said member and one of said rings.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said mounting and guide means on said carrier comprises a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rings projecting laterally from said carrier, said member being slidably and guidably disposed in said rings, said member having thereon a lateral enlargement engageable with said lower ring for limiting downward travel of said member relative to said carrier.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said resilient means has a lower end engaged upon said enlargement.

6. A shotgun shell loading device comprising a base, a stand mounted upon and rising from said base, a carrier slidably mounted upon said stand for vertical movement, actuating means connected to said carrier for raising and lowering the latter upon said stand, a vertically elongated tubular member supported upon said carrier and having a lower portion extending therebeneath and of such size as to be slidable within a shotgun shell, means for supporting on said base below said member and in stationary position a shotgun shellto be loaded, means on said carrier and projecting laterally therefrom in vertically spaced relation for mounting and guiding said member for vertical movement relative thereto, resilient means connected to said carrier and member and yieldingly urging the latter downwardly from the former whereby to apply by said resilient means a uniform downward force when the carrier is lowered by said actuating means to thereby uniformly compress charges in shotgun shells, said resilient means consisting of a coil compression spring disposed about said member with its upper end engaging said carrier and with its lower end engaged with said member, said mounting and guide means on said carrier comprising a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rings projecting laterally from said carrier, said member being slidably and guidably disposed in said rings, a lateral enlargement on said member engageable with said lower ring for limiting downward travel of said member relative to said carrier, said spring abuttingly engaging said enlargement.

7. A shotgun shell loading device comprising a base, a stand mounted upon and rising from said base, a carrier slidably mounted upon said stand for vertical movement, actuating means connected to said carrier for raising and lowering the latter upon said stand, a vertically elongated tubular member supported upon said carrier and having a lower portion extending therebeneath and of such size as to be slidable within a shotgun shell, means for supporting on said base below said member and in stationary position a shotgun shell to be loaded, means on said carrier and projecting laterally therefrom in vertically spaced relation for mounting and guiding said member for vertical movement relative thereto, resilient means connected to said carrier and member and yieldingly urging the latter downwardly from the former whereby to apply by said resilient means a uniform downward force when the carrier is lowered by said actuating means to thereby uniform-1y compress charges in shotgun shell, a wad holder comprising a hollow body having an open upper end for receiving wads and the lower end of said lower portion of said member and a lower guide for retaining wads therein and having an open lower end receivable in the open upper end of a shotgun shell for discharging wads from the holder into the shell, whereby downward travel of the carrier and the member lower portion will move the latter through said holder and discharge the wads therefrom and compress the wads in the shell and means supporting said holder upon said base.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the last mentioned means comprises a mounting secured to and supporting said hollow body, and connected to said base for selectively moving said hollow body between an operative position in alignment with said member lower portion and an idle position out of alignment therewith.

9. A shotgun shell loading device com-prising a base, a stand mounted upon and rising from said base, a carrier slidably mounted upon said stand for vertical movement, actuating means connected to said carrier for raising and lowering the latter upon said stand, a vertically elongated tubular member supported upon said carrier and having a lower portion extending therebeneath and of such size as to be slidable within a shotgun shell, means for supporting on said base below said member and in stationary position a shotgun shell to be loaded, means on said carrier and projecting laterally therefrom in vertically spaced relation for mounting and guiding said member for vertical movement relative thereto, resilient means connected to said carrier and member and yieldingly urging the latter downwardly from the former whereby to apply by said resilient means a uniform downward force when the carrier is lowered by said actuating means to thereby uniformly compress charges in shotgun shells, a wad holder comprising a hollow body having an open upper end for receiving wads and the lower end of said lower portion of said member and a lower guide for retaining wads therein and having an open lower end receivable in the open upper end of a shotgun shell for discharging wads from the holder into the shell, whereby downward travel of the carrier and the member lower portion will move the latter through said holder and discharge the wads therefrom and compress the wads in the shell, means supporting said holder upon said base, said open lower end comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially resilient fingers;

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring disposed about said loading tube and having its ends secured to said carrier and said loading tube.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting and guide means on said carrier comprises a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower rings projecting laterally from said carrier, said loading tube being slidably and guidably disposed in said rings.

12. The combination of claim 1 including a powder and shot measurer having a discharge opening, means mounted upon said stand and supporting said measurer with its discharge opening positioned above said loading tube for delivering charges of powder and shot into the open upper end of said loading tube, said measurer including a pair of receptacles for powder and shot respectively,

tially and alternately delivering measured charges from said receptacles to said discharge opening and said loading tube. r

13. The combination of claim 12 including a wad holder comprising a hollow body having an open upper end for receiving wads and the lower end of said lower portion of said loading tube and a lower guide for retaining wads therein and having an open lower end receivable in the open upper end of a shotgun shell for-discharging wads from the holder into the shell, whereby downward travel of the carrier and the loading tube lower portion will move the latter through said holder and discharge the wads therefrom and compress the wads in the shell, means sup-I porting said holder upon said base.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 320,219 Chamberlin June 16, 1885 547,058 Barlow Oct. 1, 1895 1,258,736 Atherton Mar. 12, 1918 2,336,216 Birkigt Dec. 7, 1943 2,819,644 Corcoran Jan. 14, 1958 

